A rollover crash on April 28 has led to an impaired driving investigation and wildlife concerns after police found liquor and dead Canada geese in a wrecked vehicle.
At approximately 8:12 p.m., emergency services responded to a single-vehicle rollover at the intersection of Road 23W (Dicken’s Road) and Southview Drive. The vehicle had struck a large frost boil, causing significant damage.
Winkler Police Chief Ryan Hunt said that initially, Winkler Fire Department was dispatched.
“The fire department received an iPhone crash notification, and so the fire department drove out to try to locate that iPhone… that's where they located this vehicle that rolled over and was lying in the ditch.”
As fire crews arrived, the male driver fled on foot. Officers accompanying them pursued and apprehended the man in a nearby field.
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“They were able to apprehend the male in the field and determined that he'd be the driver of the vehicle,” said Chief Hunt. “He was injured, was also intoxicated, so he was transported to hospital by ambulance.”
Due to the driver's injuries, police could not obtain a breath sample at the scene. A blood sample was drawn at the hospital, and results are pending. Officers also discovered several cans of liquor at the scene and in the vehicle.
More surprising, however, was what they found in the trunk.
“In the process of further investigating, the officers found these Canada geese,” Chief Hunt noted. “There was also goose meat already packaged in freezer bags.”
The incident occurred well outside the legal hunting season for geese, prompting notification of Manitoba Conservation for further investigation.